Definition of a Manic Depressive

Manic-Depression, currently called Bipolar Disorder, affects approximately 5.7 million adult Americans according to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance website. Bipolar Disorder is a continuous cycle between extreme highs and extreme lows in emotion. Bipolar Disorder affects friendships, relationships, work habits and functioning for millions of people. It is important to receive treatment and adhere to treatment guidelines if the bipolar person is to regain a normal life.

Definition

• Bipolar Disorder is a mood disorder where the sufferer cycles between high and low states of mood. The manic-depressive will go through manic episodes called "manias" and depressive episodes that are severe depressions. It is not unusual for a manic-depressive person to also suffer from clinical depression.

Mania

• A mania is an intense episode characterized by intense euphoria, aggression, risk-taking behavior and oftentimes poor judgment. The manic person will often make rash decision effecting finance, engage in inappropriate sexual behavior, make inappropriate comments and engage in fighting, talking or actions that do not seem to fit with the person's normal character. During manias, the bipolar person may feel heightened euphoria and believe she is capable of grandiose feats of mental capacity or physical capacity. The manic may work for hours or days straight, needing little sleep, and often waking up refreshed, ready to dive head-first into more and more debilitating work and actions. Additionally, the Bipolar person may seem to thrive on little food and mental or physical downtime. Oftentimes the sufferer will have racing, uncontrollable thoughts accompanying his actions.

Depression

• The depression a Bipolar person feels is incapacitating. It is severe, long-lasting, and runs deep. The person may not get out of bed, may eat to excess, seem indifferent to physical appearance and lose all hope. The depressed Bipolar can be very dangerous to herself and engage in self-destructive actions such as self-harm, over-eating, alcohol abuse or abusive behavior toward friends and family. Contrary to popular belief, the Manic-Depressive is at a low risk of suicide at this time, though it may occur. Manic-Depressives often commit suicide at the end of manias, when they feel themselves slipping into the depressive episode because they know how horrible the depressive episode can be.

Symptoms

• Since symptoms of Bipolar Disorder fluctuate, it may be hard to diagnose at first or even take years to fully realize. People with Bipolar exhibit both high-risk and low-risk behaviors. High risk behaviors include gambling, sexual behavior, self abuse, drinking problems, aggression, euphoria, feeling of invincibility and self-harm. Low-risk behaviors are indifference to appearance, falling behind in school, lethargy, irritability, continuous sleeping and a general indifference to things that once excited them.

Help

• If you or someone you love exhibits these behaviors, seek treatment. A round of anti-depressants and mood stabilizers will be used to counteract the highs and lows of this disorder. A normal life can be regained for a person diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder.